West Bow

At the foot of Victoria Street

West Bow and Victoria Street

West Bow was originally a steep winding road that led up the hill from the western end of the Grassmarket to the foot of Castle Hill.

This was the only approach to Edinburgh Castle from the south and access was  not easy, especially with loaded carts.

1830

   1830 map - Edinburgh Castle to Calton Hill ©

When George IV Bridge was built in the early 19th century, Victoria Street was also built offering an easier route to Edinburgh Castle.  All that now remains of Best Bow is a small curving section of the street at its southern end where it meets the Grassmarket.

New roads  -  1830s

   Edinburgh map, 1830 - zoom-in to the area around Edinburgh Castle - with new roads shown and key added ©

 

Engravings

Engraving from 'Old & New Edinburgh' - Assembly Rooms in West Bow ©

Assembly Rooms

Engraving in 'Old & New Edinburgh' - Provost Stewart's Land in the West Bow ©

Provost Stewart's Land

Engraving in 'Modern Athens' - West Bow ©

West Bow

 

Old Photographs

Stereo View by Archibald Burns - Head of West Bow, Edinburgh ©

Archibald Burns  -  Stereo View

Head of West Bow

Photograph in Edinburgh Calotype Club Album - Volume 2, Page 29 - Head of West Bow ©

Edinburgh Calotype Club Album

Head of West Bow

 

1980s or 1990s

    Ches Jules Austin van parked at West Bow, at the foot of Victoria Street ©

Chez Jules van

 

Painting

Painting 'Silent Street' by Matylda Konecka - West Bow and Victoria Street from East End of Grassmarket ©

'Silent Street'
Matylda Konecka

West Bow and Victoria Street from Grassmarket

 

Recent Photos

Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, 2009 ©

2009

Jazz & Blues Festival Procession

  ©

2009

Jazz & Blues Festival Procession

 

The Foot of West Bow

A short stretch of the original West Bow

 leading from Victoria Street to the east end of Grassmarket

October 2003

    Shops in West Bow - Photographed October 2003 ©

West Bow Shops

December 2003

  West Bow, The Grassmarket and George Heriot's School (floodlit at top of picture) ©

West Bow and
Heriots School

   Looking down on the West Bow with shops on the south side of the Grassmarket and George Heriot's School in the background ©

West Bow - 1

   Image created from a photograph looking down on West Bow from Victoria Terrace ©

West Bow - 2

December 2005

The foot of West Bow and West Bow Well - view from the Grassmarket ©

Foot of West Bow

Looking from the ©

Foot of West Bow

Looking to the west down the Cowgate from the foot of West Bow in the Grassmarket ©

West Bow and Cowgate

  West Bow Well at the foot of West Bow - with West Bow, leading into Victoria Street in the background ©

West Bow Well

A sign on a small door on the western side of West Bow Well ©

A small door  in West Bow Well

2007

Foot of West Bow from the Grassmarket ©

Foot of West Bow
from the Grassmarket

Looking up West Bow towards Victoria Street from the East End of the Grassmarket ©

Victoria Street and West Bow
from the east end of the Grassmarket

West Bow at the East End of the Grassmarket ©

Foot of West Bow
from the Grassmarket

Looking up West Bow towards Victoria Street from the East End of the Grassmarket ©

Victoria Street and  West Bow
from the east end of the Grassmarket

   Foot of West Bow from the Grassmarket ©

Foot of West Bow
from the Grassmarket

Foot of West Bow from the Grassmarket ©

Foot of West Bow
from the Grassmarket

Looking up West Bow towards Victoria Street from the east end of the Grassmarket - December 2007 ©

Victoria Street and  West Bow
from the east end of the Grassmarket

 

 

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